Letter 49 - The Sand Message Miracle!
Hello Bregdan Woman!
You have Ginny today…
The “Sand Message Miracle”… That’s what I’m calling the event that introduced me to a powerful Bregdan Woman.
In 2015, I headed down to the Oregon Coast for 12 days of vacation and research for book # 8 in The Bregdan Chronicles. There are many beautiful places in the world, but nothing holds my heart like the Oregon Coast.
I love every single thing about it. The craggy bluffs. The imposing rocks with the surf exploding as it crashes into them. The glorious sunsets. The almost private beaches (at least where I was!). The sun. The violent storms. The constant song of the surf. The eagles. The hawks. The playful seals. Hours of roaming the beaches with my dog. Amazing food. The list goes on and on…
I first discovered the Oregon Coast decades ago when I moved there to lead wilderness horseback trips in the coastal mountains. Yeah… there are a lot of stories from that, but this letter is about something different. It’s about the “Sand Message Miracle”!
Two days before I left to go home, my heart full of gratitude as I walked along the beach, I decided to write a huge message in the sand. I found the perfect “writing stick” and began to write a message I could send to all of my Bregdan Chronicles readers who have made my life so amazing.
I had no idea I was being watched…
I was almost done with my message when I heard a voice drift down from above. “Hey, Ginny…”
At least I thought that was what I heard, but I immediately knew I had to be mistaken. I don’t know anyone who lives in that area. I looked toward the sound of the voice and saw two women standing on the deck of a nearby house, waving their arms wildly.
I smiled and waved back, wondering who in the world they were. One of the women continued to wave her arms. It was difficult to hear over the sound of the waves and wind, but I was mystified by what I heard next. “Picture… putting on… Facebook.”
Huh?
Was this mystery woman one of my readers? Had I actually rented a house two doors down from someone who knew The Bregdan Chronicles? I was so eager to get back to my computer and unlock the mystery!
I finished my sand message, and then hurried back to my house on the bluffs. This is what I found on my Facebook page…
I laughed, and then clicked on the name of the person who had sent it to me. Gazing back at me from her Facebook page was Cindy Cunningham. I smiled back at her friendly smile, but two things continued to mystify me. The first was that this blond woman did not at all resemble the wildly-waving brunette who had hollered at me. The second thing was the children surrounding Cindy in her Facebook banner. I could have sworn they were Ugandan…
In 2007, when I was operating one of the Internet companies I started, I brought over a choir of 20 Ugandan AIDS orphans. They toured the country for 6 months, and then took back money to build another school, and more housing for orphans. It was an incredibly special experience.
I was still involved with all the young people from Uganda.
I had to meet these women.
I took a shower to wash off the sand, walked up the street, and knocked on the door of the mystery women. Cindy opened the door, laughed when she saw me, and welcomed me in. Then I met her best friend, Janet Matyas (the waving brunette). In moments I knew I had found Kindred Spirits!
Both of us were blown-away when we learned of our Ugandan connection. Cindy Cunningham is the founder of The Village of Hope in Uganda, Africa. (www.VillageofHopeUganda.com) As she told me her story, my mouth hung open and my heart expanded.
The Lord’s Resistance Army perpetrated more than 20 years of war in Northern Uganda, abducting children and forcing them to become soldiers or sex slaves. The ripple effects of the brutal conflict continues to impact the region today.
During one of Cindy’s trips to Africa, she saw firsthand just how horrific the situation was. The need was overwhelming.
In Northern Uganda, Rose Aber was praying, “God, send us someone to help.” Back home in the US, Cindy Cunningham was praying, “God, what do you want me to do?” Out of their prayers, God brought these two women together to birth Village of Hope Uganda.
The journey has been anything but easy. Raising money… raising awareness… building homes and schools. Just this would have been more than challenging.
Cindy came home, quit her job, and devoted herself to helping the children.
Six months later, she received devastating news.
Cindy has suffered two bouts of brain tumors since she began Village of Hope in 2007. This trip to the Oregon Coast was her first trip in 18 months because of the seizures the treatments caused. Janet travels with her because it’s not safe for her to travel alone. It was hard for me to wrap my brain around that information as I stared into her laughing face and vibrant eyes…
(And yes, she’s doing great now!)
Back at the beach…
Later that next morning when I looked over the edge of the bluff, I began to laugh…
I know it’s a little difficult to read (I got the best pictures possible from my bluff), but it says Village of Hope Uganda!
I ran down to the beach, and we spent more time talking about our passions and visions – forging a stronger bond of our Kindred Spirits. My heart swelled with wonder and gratitude as we talked. Who would have thought that writing a message in the sand on a mostly deserted Oregon beach would create a new friendship and introduce me to two Bregdan Women??
I’ve watched over the years as the Village of Hope has grown and expanded, helping hundreds of children.
The impact is phenomenal. Children have been changed… villages have been changed… the lives of countless others have been (and will be changed) as these children grow up and pledge to make their own difference in Uganda.
The Bregdan Principle at work!
And that, my friends, is the story of the “Sand Message Miracle”!
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What will you do to be a Bregdan Woman?
What will you do today to impact history??
We’re on this journey with you… (and have 2 FREE Gifts for you below…)
Ginny & Suess
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